Gripping means for removing trees



A ril 20, 1948. J. w. M CLATCHIE I 2,440,180

GRIFFING MEANS FOR REMOVING TREES Filed Feb. 7, 1945 10 12 18 I cm:

. 0 I 4 17 O I 4 7 p 3n enter: 17 12 km W. MACCLATHIE,

l1 By I. I VLLLF" Gttomeg.

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 ammo STATES PATENT GRIPPING Fort REMOVING minis John W. MacOlatchie, LosAngeles, Calif. Application February 7, 1945, seriaI Natda-mv 2Claims. 1

This invention relates to a gripping means for removing trees, stumps, postspoles and the like.

1 *he dbjectofm-y inventionis to provide agripping means for removing trees, stumps, posts, poles and the like which is economical to make, simple in construction and which can be =operateiiby asingleindiwdual.

hnother-objectof-myinventionis to provide a gripping means comprising a primary jaw and a secondary jaw pivoted to the primary jaw with means for normally holding the secondary jaw in open positionwithrespecttothe primaryijaw and with means connecting said jaws which automatically moves the secondary jaw into cooperating arrangement with the primary jaw when th 'primary jaw is held against forward movement as the device is moved in a forward direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a resilient connection between the primary jaw and the tractor and a line connection between the primary jaw, tractor and the secondary jaw, which line connection automatically moves the secondary jaw into cooperating arrangement with the primary jaw as the primary jaw contacts a tree or other object and is thereby held against forward movement as the device is moved in a forward direction.

My invention has other objects, advantages, and features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline one form of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention showing the primary jaw about to contact the tree.

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 as the primary jaw engages the tree and the secondary jaw has been moved into cooperating arrangement with the primary jaw.

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 as the jaws are fully closed about the tree.

Figure 4 is an elevational view indicated by the arrows -'l4 in Figure 3.

In the drawings, the numeral ID indicates a primary jaw and the numeral ll indicates a secondary jaw which is pivoted to the primary jaw at l2. The primary jaw is connected to the tractor or other moving means l3 by means of a spring [4 and is connected to the tractor and the secondary jaw II by means of a wire line IS. The jaws are preferably but not neces- Means areals'o rovidedLtoholdxthesecondary jaw in 'op'en p'o'sit'ion with respect -to 'the primary jaw until the. primary fjaw -eng'ag'es 'a treeor other object to be moved. Forthis purpose a spring H-may be provided.- f

In operation, the a device is -adapte'd to beimoved forward icy means of the resilient cohneetion between the tractor and the primary jaw as shown in' l 'igure 1, "withth'e wire line in inoperaftive position.

As the primary jaw engages -'a tree or =other object and the device is moved forward, the spring I4 is extended, the secondary jaw moves into cooperating position with the primary jaw, and the wire line which extends from the primary jaw through the pulley l8 to the secondary jaw becomes taught, that is, said cable moves into fully operative position as shown in Figure 3. The tree is now firmly engaged by the gripping means and upon further movement of the tractor, the tree or other object is pulled out of the ground.

It will readily be seen that the device is adapted to be operated by a singl individual and thereby accomplishes one of the main objects of the invention. It will also be seen that it is simple and rugged in construction and that it is economical to make.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the uses, advantages, and operation of the gripping means of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have described the principle of operation, together with the form of my invention which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the form shown is merely illustrative and that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for attachment to a draft apparatus for gripping and pulling trees, stumps, and the like, comprising a primary jaw having a forwardly extending shank portion and a laterally extending gripping portion, a secondary jaw pivotally secured to said primary jaw, said secondary jaw having a gripping portion and a shank portion and being pivotally movable from an open position in which said laterally extending gripping portion of said primary jaw is unobstructed for engagement with a tree, stump, or th like, to a closed position in which said gripping portion of said secondary jaw is in opposed cooperating relationship to said gripping portion of said primary jaw, means for moving said secondary jaw to open position, an extensible spring member for connecting said shank portion of said primary jaw to a draft apparatus, a flexible line extending forwardly from said shank portion of said primary jaw for movable engagement with the draft apparatus and thence extending rearwardly to said shank portion of said secondary jaw, said flexible lin being of a length such that it pulls said secondary jaw from open position to closed position during elongation of said extensible spring member by pulling force of the draft apparatus.

2. A device for attachment to a draft apparatus for gripping and pulling trees, stumps, and the like, comprising a primary jaw having a forwardly extending shank portion and a laterally extending gripping portion, a secondary jaw having a shank portion and a gripping portion, said secondary jaw being mounted on said primary jaw and pivotally movable from-open position in which said gripping portion of said primary jaw is unobstructed for engagement with a tree, stump, or the like, to a, closed position in which said gripping portion of said secondary jaw is in opposed cooperating relationship to the gripping portion of said primary jaw, resilient means for urging said secondary jaw to open position, an extensible spring member secured to said shank portion of said primary jaw and extending forwardly for connection to a draft apparatus, a

flexible line extending forwardly from said shank portion of said primary jaw to a pulley secured to the draft apparatus, and thence extending rearwardly to said shank portion of said sec ondary jaw whereby said shank portion of said primary jaw may engage a tree, stump, or the like, during forward movement of the draft ap= paratus, and said flexible line will pull said sec ondary jaw from open position to closed position during elongation of said spring member, after which said flexible line will prevent further elongation of said spring member and will transmit pulling force from the draft apparatus to said device.

JOHN W. MAcCLATCI-HE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name I Date 1,272,359 Bell July 16, 1918 1,700,008 Wester Jan. 22, 1929 1,732,976 Mathews Oct. 22, 1929 1,888,083 Holtz Nov. 15,1932 1,976,977 Zinky Oct. 16, 1934 2,233,821 Ramer Mar. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,412 Great Britain June 25, 1902 54,628 Sweden July 9, 1921 

